Nutrition and weight maintenance

November 2004     View PDF     En español

Vitamin supplements

Your doctor or a registered dietitian who specializes in HIV can help you design a nutrition plan that works best for you. The following list is provided simply as something to speak with a doctor or trained nutritionist about. Consider these supplements once a day, preferably at either breakfast or lunch:

    1x “Ultimate One” or equivalent vitamin
    1x beta carotene (25,000 iu)
    1x vitamin B-12 (500µg)
    1x calcium/magnesium/zinc (CMZ) (1,000mg/400mg/15mg)
    1x iron
    1x vitamin E (200mg)
    1x selenium (400µg)
    1x zinc (50mg in addition to the CMZ)
    1x folic acid
    1x vitamin C (3,000mg)
    1x capsule acidophilus, 10-20 minutes after meal

At another meal:

    1x B-12 (500µg)
    1x vitamin C (1,500mg)
    1x acidophilus shortly after the meal

If anyone started all these vitamins at once, they would probably develop stomach problems or diarrhea. If you are considering vitamins and are not currently taking supplements, you’d probably do best by starting with only a good multivitamin once a day. Learn about other options. If you consider other vitamins, add them to your daily routine slowly over time and not all at once. This will diminish side effects. For more information on vitamins, read Project Inform’s publication, Herbs, Supplements and HIV Disease.